Butler told Mike that he sees a generally good economy that will benefit state budgets. He also credited the recent tax cuts with the latest boost in income and sales tax growth.

House General Fund Chairman Steve Clouse is pleased to see a boost in that sometimes growth-stunted budget, but said there are plenty of financial issues the Legislature will have to work out come March.

2. House Elections.

Unless Democrats stage a House Floor revolt, she’ll get her gavel back in January.

Rogers will lead Republicans on Homeland Security

Congressman Mike Rogers has been selected as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee.

Ranking Member means the top leader from the minority party.

It puts Rogers in position to be chairman should Republicans win the House back. He was elbowed out of that job by the powerful Texas delegation six years ago, so good for him on getting it back.

Aderholt up for Appropriations post

Congressman Robert Aderholt is vying to become Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee. Same as above, that would make him the top Republican and in line to become chairman if his party wins back the majority.

Time’s running out for Alabama small businesses and middle-class families to save as much as $450 in 2020.

This costly, unfair and hidden tax increases the cost of health insurance in the small business market, needlessly stifles economic growth and should be repealed.

Senator Doug Jones can help protect hardworking Alabamians by supporting legislation to delay the 2020 Health Insurance Tax before it begins driving up the cost of care for thousands of Alabama families.

3. Hoover officials meet with Bradford family.

Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Councilman Derrick Murphy and Police Chief Nick Derzis met with the family of E.J. Bradford expressing their condolences and apologizing for the inaccurate statement originally released about the Thanksgiving night shooting.

Immediately after the shooting, authorities released a statement implying that Bradford was the suspected perpetrator who opened fire in Riverchase Galleria and wounded two people. The evidence later showed that was incorrect. Bradford had a firearm but was not the shooter. The actual assailant is still at large.

A statement from the city said the officials answered the family’s questions, but was not specific.

Funeral services for Bradford are set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, demonstrators are calling for boycotts and vowing to “shut down” Hoover and The Galleria, Alabama’s largest mall.

The city canceled a Christmas tree lighting that had been scheduled for tonight.

5. News Briefs.

A majority of Senators, including several Republicans, are expressing dissatisfaction with the U.S. response to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In a 63-37 vote Wednesday, the Senate opted to move forward with legislation calling for an end to U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis both lobbied senators not to go through with the vote saying that there is still “no direct reporting” connecting the crown prince to the murder.

Pompeo also said the vote would be “poorly timed” as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict are underway.

The vote is largely a symbolic move, because House Republicans have given no indication that they would take up the war powers measure before the end of the year.

One surprising supporter of the vote was Trump supporter Lindsey Graham who threatened to withhold his vote on key measures if this matter wasn’t addressed.

A teacher was arrested Wednesday – a week after she resigned from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery – and charged with sex crimes against a student. The Montgomery Police Department Natasha Patronsky is charged with engaging in a sex act with a student under 19.